The 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized) was designated the Army's
Experimental Force on December 15, 1995 as its colors were unfurled for the
first time over Central Texas and Fort Hood. A new chapter in its long and glorious history began as its soldiers were
given the mission to lead the Army into the 21st Century.

Three decades earlier, the 4th Infantry Division was selected in 1958 to
be sole infantry component in the Strategic Army Corps (STRAC) and assigned the
mission to suppress aggression wherever American interests were threatened.

American interests were threatened and the 4th Infantry Division recieved
orders to deploy to Vietnam.

The 4th Infantry Division returned from Vietnam in December of 1970 and
settled at Fort Carson, Colorado, where it reorganized as a mechanized unit and
remained for 25 years. It was during the Division’s time at Fort Carson that its
nickname transitioned from the “Ivy” Division to the “Ironhorse” Division. The
nickname, “Ironhorse,” remains today in recognition of the Division’s readiness
for contingency deployment worldwide.

Twenty-five years after making its home in Colorado, the Ironhorse
Division was again restationed to meet the Army's requirements but this move
would be quite different from others.
The Ironhorse Division became a split-based organization with six brigades and
three separate battalions stationed at Fort Hood and the 3rd Brigade Combat Team
remaining at Fort Carson.

In December 1995, the Division began thoroughly training, testing and
evaluating of 72 initiatives to include the Division Capstone Exercise (DCX) I
held at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California in April 2001,
and culminating in the DCX II held at Fort Hood in October 2001.